Hall of Fame to install special museum exhibition in Barcelona

The International Tennis Hall of Fame & Museum and the Olympic and Sports Museum Joan Antoni Samaranch in Barcelona have embarked on a new partnership in which the Hall of Fame will provide a special exhibition entitled Tennis and the Olympics, to be shown inside the Olympic and Sports Museum. The partnership was announced at the Barcelona Open Banc Sabadell in a special ceremony attended by The Honorable Xavier Trias, Mayor of Barcelona, Hall of Fame President Stan Smith, and Albert Agusti Garcia-Navarro, Chairman of the Royal Tennis Club of Barcelona – 1899. The exhibit will be on display January 2014 – March 2014. The organizers gathered with media and Spanish tennis industry leaders for a ceremonial signing of an official agreement to mark the new partnership.

“Tennis is one of the world’s most international sports, and it has had a rich history within the Olympic movement. We are delighted for this unique opportunity to showcase tennis’ role in the Games for the fans who visit the Olympic and Sports Museum,” said Stan Smith. “The Hall of Fame’s mission is to preserve and celebrate the rich history of tennis, and we are grateful to the Olympic and Sports Museum of Barcelona for helping us to share this important part of tennis history with an international audience. It is a great step for us to elevate international awareness for our mission, and it is an honor for me to be here today to share this exciting news.”

Tennis and the Olympics will offer a comprehensive look at the great champions and most exciting moments of tennis in the Olympics. In addition, it will detail the interesting role that tennis has played in the Games, having gone from a full medal sport to having no presence for many years, and back to a full medal, extremely popular sport in the last several decades.

The exhibit will feature dynamic imagery of great Olympic tennis moments, and a full listing of every Olympic and Paralympic tennis medalist in history. The exhibit will feature Olympians from many nations, with special emphasis on Spain’s celebrated players, such as Hall of Famer Arantxa Sanchez-Vicario, Rafael Nadal, Conchita Martinez, and Sergi Bruguera.

Fans will be able to read about historic victories, such as Steffi Graf's 1988 Gold Medal, which made her the first person, and the only person to date, to achieve the Golden Slam (all four majors and the Olympic gold medal in one year). Guests will also take away some interesting tennis tidbits- for example, who would have guessed that the 1900 champion would have won a coffee and liqueur serving table as his Olympic prize, or that some years there were both indoor and outdoor tennis events contested?

The exhibit will also have a focus on the Paralympic Games, highlighting how eight competitors from five nations showed off their skills at the 1988 Seoul Olympics in a convincing demonstration that propelled wheelchair tennis to a full medal sport at Barcelona in 1992.

The Olympic and Sports Museum Juan Antonio Samaranch is managed by the Barcelona Olympic Foundation. Through changing exhibits and interactive displays, the museum showcases how the qualities of sports transcend all cultures and places special emphasis on the Olympic spirit.

Located in Newport, Rhode Island, USA, the International Tennis Hall of Fame & Museum is a non-profit organization dedicated to preserving the history of tennis, honoring its greatest champions and leaders, and inspiring the future of the sport. The Hall of Fame operates an extensive museum that highlights the history of tennis from its 12th century origins through present-day, as well as the fascinating life stories of the game’s greatest athletes and industry contributors. The museum’s collection features vintage tennis equipment, video highlights and iconic photos, tennis apparel ranging from Victorian dresses to modern fashions, tennis inspired paintings and fine arts, and memorabilia from remarkable moments as recent as the current-year Grand Slams. Changing exhibits and special exhibitions, similar to Tennis and the Olympics are displayed year-round in the museum.

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About the International Tennis Hall of Fame & Museum

Established in 1954, the International Tennis Hall of Fame & Museum is a non-profit institution dedicated to preserving the history of tennis, inspiring and encouraging junior tennis development, providing a landmark for tennis enthusiasts worldwide, and enshrining tennis heroes and heroines with the highest honor in the sport of tennis- induction into the International Tennis Hall of Fame. In 1986, the International Tennis Federation, the governing body of tennis, officially recognized the International Tennis Hall of Fame & Museum as the sport's official Hall of Fame. The Hall of Fame is located in Newport, Rhode Island, USA, on a six-acre property that features an extensive museum chronicling the history of the sport and honoring the 224 Hall of Famers; 13 grass tennis courts and an indoor tennis facility that are open to the public and to a club membership; a rare Court Tennis facility; and an historic 297-seat theatre. Annually in July, the venue hosts the Hall of Fame Tennis Championships for the Van Alen Cup, an ATP World Tour event. The buildings and grounds, which were constructed in 1880 by McKim, Mead & White to serve as a social club for Newport's summer residents, are renowned for their incredible architecture and preservation. The facility was designated a National Historic Landmark in 1987. The International Tennis Hall of Fame & Museum is supported by Official Partners including Chubb Personal Insurance, EMC, Alex and Ani, and Rolex Watch USA. For information on the International Tennis Hall of Fame & Museum and its programs, call 401-849-3990 or visit us online at www.tennisfame.com.